HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1173, 7 July 1911, Page 9

HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

tßy Telecraph.—Special Correspondents — 9 RIVER BOARD AFFAIRS. Tho monthly meeting of the Ilntt River Board was held last night. There were present: Messrs. R. Stevens (chairman), b\ Penny, A. Roots, anil 11. Sladden.^ 11l reference to the .Hayward Land Syndicate, a letter was received lroni .Messrs. JJunny and Ayson, stating that the Iwaril liad no power to provide a loan for the cost of the work done by the syndicate, and to strike a special rate upon the property for tho purpose of redeeming the loan, and generally the board had no power to borrow money for protective works on individual properties, and chargo a special rate lor repayment of the loan and interest. Under Section 90 of tho liiver Boards Act, 108, the board had power, by special order, to direct rates to be called special rates, to be made and levied within the subdivision affected, but this was the only power of rating conferred, outside provisions for levying general and special rates over tho whole district. As suggested (the writer continued) it n-ould be well to obtain special legislative sanction to confer additional powers of rating on the board. Tho matter was held over pending a conference between the solicitors and Mr. Field. Mr. P. Speedy drew attention to' an encroachment of the river on part of his land at Belmont. It was decided to repair the damage at once provided that the oost did not exceed .^3. Mr. Laing-Meason (reporting on Mr. G. Marshall's offer to buifd reinforced concrete groynes) stated that they could be built lor'the price quoted by him. Mr. Meason further expressed regret that the board could not see its way to carry out this year's instalment of the boom groyne scheme, as that neglect would seriously affect the work already done with other groynes. Mr. Meason intimated that no was taking the necessary steps with regard to tho pipo lino deviation at Gear The overseer reported that the cutting of all noxious growths on the stop-banks had been completed. The present works consisted of planting willows all along the river banks, and this work will take about six weeks. There had be?n two freshes in the river during tho month. The absence of floods had, however, been very pronounced this winter.. At Haywards (where the two new bcom groynes had recently been erected) the bank above and below tlie lower groyne should be planted with willows and trees tethered and anchored along the bank to prevent erosion at the base of the groyne. The cost would be about M Satisfactory progress was being made, by the contractor of the embankment works. UPPER lIUTT RIFLE CLUB. The Upper Hutt Rifle Club will, this evenings hold its annual "social" and nresentation of trophies in tho local Town Hall. HOME NURSING. Last night at the Petone MuniciD.il Buildings, Dr. Ross delivered a lcctuic for women on "Home Nursing." There was a good attendance, and the doctjr j was accorded a vote of thanks. COURT RETURNS. The following are the quarterly Court returns lip till the end of Juno for Lower Hutt:—Aggregate amount sued for, ,£ti2D 9s. lid.; amount recovered, ,£229 lis. Id.; plaints entered, 67; distress warrants issued, 1; judgment summonses issued, 12; orders on judgment summonses, 1; .warrants of committal, 3; number of summonses served by bailiff, 111; civil fees paid in stamps,. .026 125.; number of. people summoned, 37; amount of criminal ices paid in stamps, ,£8 175.; fines, <Cl 3 13s. For Petone, the corresponding returns wero as follow:—l'laints entered, 30; amount sued for, .£llß Ss. 5d.; amount recovered, ,Cfß 19s. Id.; number of people summoned or arrested, M; discharged for want of prosecuting evidence, 2; dismissed on merits, 6;' number convicted, 36; millibar fined, 22; convicted and discharged, 11; orders made, 3.